Michael Watts, who wrote the Inspector Watts column in the Sunday Express and other publications for more than 35 years, has died at the age of 79.

He had been undergoing treatment for oesophageal cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

Watts began in journalism aged 16 as a reporter on the Nottingham Evening News. After four years there he became London editor of The Viewer television magazine for a year before joining the Sunday Express in 1960.

He was variously gossip column editor, deputy news editor, and deputy editor in Manchester, and started the paper's Town Talk diary.

In 1969 he began The World of Michael Watts, a consumer column laced with social comment and humour.

This concluded with the Great Corny Joke Contest, offering a cash prize of a Crisp Oncer, which at £1 was "the meanest prize in Fleet Street”.

In the 1980s, as the pound coin was replacing the pound note, Watts bought several hundreds of the paper version from a bank so that the Crisp Oncer prize could continue.

In carrying out investigations and taking up readers' battles with companies and bureaucracy, Watts became known as Inspector Watts and the column continued for 22 years, until he left the Sunday Express.

He started the column again in the relaunched London Evening News and, the following year, in Saga magazine.

Then in 1989 the Sunday Express asked Watts to bring it back to them, which lasted until 1991.

John McCormick

THE Drone is saddened to report that former Daily Express reporter John McCormick has died at the age of 76.

John, a fine reporter with an agreeable demeanour, worked for 42 years in journalism, starting off as a tea boy at the Scottish Daily Express before moving to Fleet Street.

Ted spent much of his career on the Daily Mail and had been ill for some time.

His daughter Kathryn said: "Ted had been suffering for some time with several serious ailments.

"It was expected and still comes as a kick in the gut.”

Ted’s friend and colleague Fred Wehner described him as "my dear, close friend, one of the Daily Mail's most honorable inmates and one of Fleet Street's genuine darlings".

He added: "Amid the throng of 'rat-nosed reporters' (as Vincent Mulchrone might have described us all) Ted stood out as a man of strong principle.

"I remember him defying the Night News Editor's order to re-write an Express story without first checking the facts. Arms akimbo, chin jutting out like Desperate Dan he challenged the man to his face as the entire Mail office came to a standstill.

"He later moved to the Express."

Fred, who lives in Monroe, Georgia, went on: “I loved Ted dearly, as did Linda, and we shall miss our frequent visits and, later, phone calls. But I'm glad his suffering is over.”

David Eliades told the Drone: "Ted used to be my invaluable late night reporter on the Express, when I was Night News Editor. He could give his magic touch to any breaking story.”

Alastair McIntyre said: "Ted was a lovely man and a fine companion who enlivened debate late at night on the Daily Express.

“The sight of Ted hoving into view carrying his large steaming coffee pot was always a delight.”

Pat Pilton said: "I remember Ted with great affection. The Express seldom failed to stand up a rival’s late night story and Ted and David E had much to do with that.

"And, of course, along with Peter Floyd, organising the nightly bagel run.”

Frank Baldwin said: "When I first started in ‘the street of shame’ I had to hand deliver the type written ‘overnights’ to the various nationals (no faxes or emails in those days).

"Ted was one of the few people who took the time to sit down with me and go through the stories, making suggestions on how they could be improved etc.

"He was always welcoming and this helped pass what could be very long night shifts in those days."

Arthur GouldIt’s not often that one can laugh at an obituary but The Times has written a fine tribute to its former night editor Arthur Gould who has died aged 89.

The obit was written by Liz Gerard, a former Times sub who runs the SubScribe journalism website www.sub-scribe.co.uk

Tom PrideThe Times has done it again. Hard on the heels of Liz Gerard’s magnificent obit on Arthur Gould comes another excellent tribute, this time to the paper’s Chief Sub Tom Pride, pictured, who has died aged 63.

Leslie LeeFormer Daily Express photographer Leslie Lee died on Tuesday 9 January, 2018, at a care home in Braintree, Essex. He was 92.

John Mead, Les’s picture editor at the Express from 1978 to 1985 said: “Les was a picture editor's dream, he would always do a photo job thoroughly, a lovely chap, always happy to guide new photographers in their first few weeks on the paper.”

CLICK HERE for a picture of Les in 1983 with other Express photographers.

Peter WelbournPeter ‘Wellers’ Welbourn, former political editor of the Daily Star, who also worked for years on the Daily and Sunday Express, died on December 17.

He was 79 and had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis. The funeral was held on January 11.

Legendary Daily Mirror picture editor Len Greener died suddenly on November 9. He was 79.

Although Len had been suffering from Parkinson's Disease in recent yearshe still kept active and got himself to the pub every day whether heneeded to or not.

His son Rob, who is picture editor of the Daily Star,said Len was in the Red Lion as usual at lunchtime on the day he died putting the world to rights and talking about his beloved Arsenal.

Len’s private funeral was held on November 21 in Canterbury.

Robin Esser

FLEET STREET legend Robin Esser has died aged 84 after a glittering 57-year career in national newspapers.

Esser, who passed away after a short illness on 6th November, realised his lifetime’s ambition when he became editor of the Sunday Express. He was later appointed executive managing editor of the Daily Mail.

The funeral will be for family only but a memorial service will be held.

Former Express photographer John Knill told the Drone: "So sorry to hear of the passing of a friend and gentleman. Robin saved me and many of my Ancoats chums from being driven mad by the 'terrible twins' when he replaced them, became Northern Editor and returned sanity back to our beleaguered outpost. May he rest in peace."

Former news sub Graham Noble, who worked on a number of national newspapers including the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph, died on 22nd June after a series of heart operations. He was 75 and leaves a partner Frances.

Roger Watkins remembers: 'Sad to hear about Graham's untimely death. We used to work together as subs on the infamous Eric Price's Western Daily Press in Bristol in 1969 just before I joined the Express in Manchester.

'He and his then wife Jean and their two children were near neighbours of Carol and me in Patchway just outside the city.

'Graham was much too much of an Edinburgh gentleman to work for the Daily Press or the Express for that matter.

'I recall he was much amused when another neighbour of ours, a West Indian woman called Precious, married a chap with the surname Little!

John Honeywell, a former managing editor of Express, Newspapers, Mirror Group and Today, died on 15 October, 2017 aged 69 after a short illness. He had been suffering from lung cancer.

He was editor at large for World of Cruising magazine where he was known as Captain Greybeard.

John’s wife and sons posted this on Facebook last night:It is with great sadness that we have to let you know that at 6.20 this morning [Sunday] John passed away after a brief but brave battle with an aggressive form of lung cancer.

John lived his life to the full and we know that we are amongst many who will miss him terribly.

Daily Express rugby correspondent Tony Bodley has died aged 82 after never really recovering from a bad fall last year.

Tony’s former colleague Clive Goozee told the Drone: 'I was shocked to hear Tony had died. The last time I saw him, looking super fit and years younger than mid to late 70s, was at former Express deputy sports editor Peter Tozer's retirement party . . . from the Daily Mail.

'I don't think I ever saw Tony looking glum, he was always smiling.

'He was a golf partner at an Express event at Thorndon Park, Essex, in the mid 90s. I asked him if he did National Service and he told me he served in Cyprus, which I said must have been a good posting, to which Bodders replied: "Not really, the locals were using live ammunition”.'

A large gathering of friends and colleagues of star political columnist Chris Buckland were at St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street, London, on 9th June for a moving memorial service.

Buckland died on 28 February after a 10-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 73.

He began his career as a Daily Mail reporter in Manchester in 1964 before becoming this paper’s Belfast correspondent from 1965 to 1966.

Known for his easy charm, Buckland, from Blackburn, Lancashire, went on to become a political editor, columnist and foreign correspondent for several national newspapers including The Sun, The News of the World, The People, Today and the Daily Mirror.

He told friends how his passion for journalism began as a young boy one day in 1953 when, as a paperboy, he stopped to read every front page’s coverage of the conquest of Mount Everest by Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing.

Throughout his 48 year career, Buckland showed an unerring eye for a story and delighted in exposing the often pompous nature of the political class.

But this did not prevent him making lifelong friends in all political parties, as he did among his many colleagues.

Buckland died peacefully at the Wellington hospital in St John’s Wood, north London.

The massed ranks of Fleet Street’s brightest and best turned out yesterday for the funeral of Paul Carter, formerly of the Daily Express and Daily Mail. It was an unforgettable day of tears and laughter, with the humour provided by Paul who, typically, micro-managed his own funeral.

Paul, one of the most talented and agreeable journalists in Fleet Street, died of cancer on March 24, 2017 in London’s Charing Cross Hospital. He was aged just 54.

He started his Fleet Street career in 1987 as a News Sub on the Daily Express and rose swiftly to the Night Editor’s chair.

Paul moved to the Daily Mail in 2000 when he fell out with editor Rosie Boycott and was promoted to joint Deputy Editor of the Mail in 2016.

He suffered his first bout of cancer in 1988 while still a news sub on the Express and had been given only weeks to live. A second doctor diagnosed him correctly and his life was saved.

He survived both liver and testicular cancer but died after a 10-week illness when the disease spread to the lungs. He never smoked.

Sausage king Bill O'Hagan, former night news editor of the Daily Telegraph and one of Fleet Street's most colourful characters, has died of cancer at the age of 68. What is not widely known is that he was born Bill Bastard and, for reasons best known to himself, adopted his mother's maiden name.

The Drone is sad to report the death of another valued friend and colleague. Bob Kilbey, a Daily Express sub-editor in the 1960s and 70s and a former BBC Radio Two disc jockey, has died at the age of 68.

Daily Express regional reporter Colin Pratt has died at his home in Pezenas, southern France after a long illness. He was 76.

Friend and former colleague Tom Brown said: 'Colin was the best, kindest and most loyal of colleagues. He and Angie kept open house and were always warm and welcoming. Like many others, I feel a real sense of personal loss.'

Former Daily Express news sub Chris Evenden died on Friday 5th September, 2014. After leaving the Express in the mid-1970s for a job with the Ford Motor Company, he later became Chief Sub of The People.

Roy Eves, former deputy features editor of the Daily Express in Manchester, died peacefully in hospital on 18th September aged 83.

Roy, who had four grandchildren, was an active union member, Liverpool football fan and a crown green bowler.

His colleague Roger Watkins recalled: ‘Roy was a great character, known, among other things, for celebrating a nice drink after the first edition had gone by standing on a bar stool and stripping while singing "Have you seen the Muffin Man?" with a full pint balanced on his head. Talk about flooding the bar!’

Former Daily Express reporter Kingsley Squire died in November 2015 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July. Kingsley, pictured with his wife Monica, is said to have had a 'wonderful, peaceful death surrounded by his family'. He was 78.

The funeral was held on 11th December. Donations can be made to Sidmouth Hospiscare and Sidmouth RNLI care of Potbury’s Funeral Directors, 111 High St, Sidmouth EX10 8LB.

CLARE DOVER, who worked with Kingsley on the Express in London, had made elaborate arrangements to attend the funeral in Devon. But her plans went slightly awry.

She explained: "The best laid plans, and all that … Jill King and I had made elaborate plans to go to Kingsley's funeral together, with me getting up in Manor Park, East London, at the unearthly hour of 4.15 am to get Tubes and train to meet up at Hildenborough, Kent, the nearest station to Jill's home, for the drive to Devon in Jill's car.

"Map reading had been promised. I had set two alarm clocks, to be doubly certain of waking - and managed to sleep through them both, awaking just in time to stop Jill from heading to the station. She promised to tell me all about it. So here I am, at home, toasting Kingsley with port and mince pies and holding a solo wake. R.I.P. Kingsley."

Kingsley’s colleague JAMES DAVIES told the Drone: ‘Kingsley was truly one of the good guys.

'Whenever you had a job in Birmingham you were guaranteed a warm welcome. So warm, in fact, that on one spectacularly bibulous occasion I missed the last train back to London and was smuggled into the Squire household where all were abed, well past midnight, and given sanctuary on Kingsley's sofa.

'I was awakened at dawn by his youngest running into the lounge and screaming: "Mummy there's a man in our house”.

'Hungover, unwashed and unshaven, I found myself trying to explain to Monica the circumstances of my unwarranted arrival. As I remember she coped magnificently – testimony to the training of most journalists' wives!

'I used to tell Kingsley that the older he got the more he resembled John the Baptist. His powerful response to pancreatic cancer was admirably biblical.’

Celebrated Daily Express horse racing correspondent Sir Peter O’Sullevan died on July 29 at the age of 97.

Sir Peter, who was also a famed TV commentator for the BBC, worked for the Express for 36 years. He died at his London home after a long illness.

He was involved in some of the earliest television commentaries on any sport in the late 1940s and also did many radio commentaries in his earlier years.

The Daily Telegraph obituary said: 'Following the death in 1964 of the Express’s proprietor Lord Beaverbrook, there were significant changes at the newspaper. Few were to O’Sullevan’s liking, and in July 1973, after a new sports editor had altered his copy and deleted two paragraphs, he resigned and tentatively accepted an offer from the Daily Mail.

But the new owner of the Express, Sir Max Aitken, persuaded him to withdraw his resignation after raising his salary from £5,500 to £9,000 a year and offering other concessions. O’Sullevan continued to write for the Daily Express until January 1985.

One of the kindest and most-respected Fleet Street journalists, Terry Evans, died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism on April 7, 2015, aged 69.

Terry, who retired as picture editor of the Sunday Express in September 2012, served on the Daily and Sunday Express for 39 years.

Colleague Alan Frame said: 'Those lucky enough to have known Terry Evans and work with him at the Express (both Daily and Sunday) in the good and not-so-good times, will agree that he was clever, resourceful, incredibly hard-working and, damn it, just plain decent without a hint of malice.

'He was simply the best and those lucky enough to have been his friend (we are a very large community) are sad beyond words because the end came without any warning.

'Our deepest sympathies to Christine and Jonathan and the extended family.’

Former Expressman Philip Finn has died after a courageous battle against cancer. He was 79.

Phil, who ran the Express New York office for many years, lost his fight for life on Monday, May 4, 2014, a few hours after being discharged from hospital to spend his remaining days at home in Aiken, South Carolina.

His wife Ann Marie, who was at Phil’s side when he died, had earlier written in an email to friends: "Hi, very sad news. Phil has been released from hospital. He is coming home to hospice [care]. He had a procedure to take fluid off his lung. Well we have been told the results. The cancer is in his blood and his fluids. So Phil is coming home to be with me and his dogs. We will keep him comfortable.

"He wants to come home. He knows what to expect and he is at peace with it. We have a wonderful marriage and have had so much fun. I don't know how to end this note but to say. We love you all. Cheers AM.”

Former New York-based snapper Derek Hudson said:

"Philip Finn was, as described by my dear friend Michael Brennan, an 'Ace Reporter' with whom I had the unique privilege to work alongside early in my career based in New York.

"What I didn't learn from my compatriot Phil wasn't worth knowing. His infectious laughter was only matched by his unrivalled skills at getting THE story before his peers had opened an eyelid.Phil pulled off more World Exclusives than was decent in a lifetime of reporting yet he took it all in his stride. A more fun-loving and generous man would be hard to find – always first to offer a drink at the bar or invite you home for a fine wine dinner.

"From the day we met he proffered his friendship and I took it very seriously making my 10-year tenure in NYC nothing but an immeasurable pleasure.

"All of us who had the good fortune to know Phil will know just how lovely a husband he was to his Scots wife Ann Marie to whom I offer sincere condolences.

Renowned author Graham Lord, former Literary Editor of the Sunday Express, has died at the age of 72.

He had been ill with cancer for the past year and died on 13th June. His wife Juliet, an artist, was by his side.

Lord had been expected to succeed Sir John Junor as editor of the Sunday Express, until JJ sabotaged his chances.

He subsequently wrote an unflattering portrait about Junor in his book Lord’s Ladies and Gentlemen: 100 Legends of the 20th Century which can be read here.

Lord was born in 1943 in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and schooled there although his childhood home was in Portuguese Mozambique. He took an honours degree in History at Cambridge, edited the university newspaper Varsity and joined the Sunday Express in London in 1965, where he spent 27 years, 23 of them as Literary Editor, writing a weekly column about books and interviewing almost every major English language author of the 1960s to 1990s, from P G Wodehouse and Graham Greene to Muriel Spark and Ruth Rendell.

In 1987 he launched the £20,000 Sunday Express Book of the Year Award and after leaving the paper in 1992 wrote regular literary, travel and opinion pieces for the Daily Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Mail.

From 1994 to 1996 he edited the short story magazine Raconteur.

Lord’s latest novel, Under a Hammock Moon, is a comic love/adventure story set on a small Caribbean island similar to the one where he lived with his Juliet. They also shared a house in the South of France and an apartment in London.

He leaves two daughters and two grandchildren in their 20s. Juliet has a son, a daughter and five grandchildren.

He was famed for once throwing a typewriter out of a window, but now the man they named Piranha Teeth is no more. Former managing director and deputy chairman of Express Newspapers Sir Jocelyn Stevens has died at the age of 82.

Celebrated Daily Express reporter Harry Chapman Pincher has died at the age of 100. The journalist and author, who was the newspaper’s defence and science correspondent until his retirement in 1979, was known as “the great spycatcher of Fleet Street”.

Pincher's son, Michael Chapman Pincher, announced his father's death on his Facebook page. He said: "Our dad, Chapman Pincher (The Lone Wolf of Fleet Street) facing his death with: no regrets, no fear and no expectation, died of old age on 05 August 2014 aged hundred and a quarter.

“Harry, a journalist, author, fisherman, shot and scourge of politicians of all hues leaves Pat and Mick, a raft of grandchildren, his third wife Billiee and her three children. His last joke was 'Tell them I'm out of scoops.’

Many colleagues will remember Roger surviving a horrendous fall from a fourth floor stairwell in the Fleet Street building. After several months recuperating he returned to serve on the editorial floor until his retirement in 2005, having completed 47 years service.

This gave him the opportunity to pursue further his all-consuming hobby cricket. As an avid Kent supporter he would travel the country in support of his team. He also enjoyed listening to classical music.

His funeral service took place at Eltham Crematorium on 18th March.

The family wishes to thank Peter Aldrich who arranged for a wreath to be sent on behalf of existing union members in the Chapel, who have fond memories of Roger.

"John was a wonderful man, a passionate Welshman who loved his boxing and rugby. He was always happy to put up visitors in his Grays Inn Road flat and track down tickets for sporting events and shows for friends and colleagues.

"He started his career in the 1950s on the Merthyr Express, later working for the Western Mail and Echo in Cardiff, before moving on to the Daily Express.

“John later encouraged his great friend Jim Hill to join him at the Express as Welsh sports writer. Jim was my father and John my godfather. He will be much missed."

One of the giants of Fleet Street, Bernard Shrimsley, died on June 9, 2016 aged 85.

He spent the last 13 years of his career on the Daily Express, first as assistant editor to Larry Lamb, who had left The Sun in 1981, and then as associate editor to Nicholas Lloyd whom he had recruited to The Sun in 1969.

Roger Watkins, who worked with Shrimsley on the Daily Express, told the Drone: "He once told me of the time he had to sack the astrologer, a homely woman in her sixties.

"Oh, Bernard," she said, visibly upset, this has come completely out of the blue."

"Ah yes," he replied, "I confess that has a lot to do with it."

The Times says Bernard did not drink but he did recall working on the Mirror with Larry Lamb who definitely did.

Apparently, Larry would go on a break, down several pints (it was only later that he "graduated" to Scotch) and then announce: "Now we know we like it, we'll have some!”